Poker Tournament Results

Harrahs Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Event

Place	Name	Prize
1	Julian Manolio (Maywood, NJ, USA)	$8,165
2	Ian Palomo (San Antonio, TX, USA)	$4,284
3	Steven Rampersaud (Richmond Hill, NY, USA)	$2,520
4	Frank Kruczek (Galloway, NJ, USA)	$2,016
5	Jim Frey (Yardley, PA, USA)	$1,512
6	Steve Albert (Brooklyn, NY, USA)	$1,260
7	Jonathan Guiterrez (Lodi, NJ, USA)	$1,008
8	Don Mercer (Sneads Ferry, NC, USA)	$756
9	Frank Calomino AKA "Frankie Kid" (Bronx, NY, USA)	$504
10	Roland Isra (Forest Hill, NY, USA)	$403
11	Henry Hobgood (Raleigh, NC, USA)	$403
12	Shahab Berokhim (Great Neck, NY, USA)	$403
13	Steve Bassant (Lansdale, PA, USA)	$353
14	Matthew Streeti (Parkville, MD, USA)	$353
15	Christopher Lindh (Goshen, NY, USA)	$353
16	Emmanuel Vega (New York, NY, USA)	$302
17	Robert Farses (Suffern, NY, USA)	$302
18	Dean Ludwinski (Avenel, NJ, USA)	$302

Tournament Report

Fast Start, Slow Finish as Finance Student Julian Manolio Wins Final Circuit Event Atlantic City, NJ--Tonight's $200 turbo event seemed to give special meaning to the word "turbo." In 20 minutes, five players were gone, and it didn't take much longer to lose the next two. But when it got it heads-up, it dragged on for nearly two more hours. "So much for the word 'turbo,'" tournament director John Arthur cracked at one point. Finally, after several chip-lead changes, Julian Manolio, a 21-year-old finance student from Maywood, New Jersey, had all the chips and a $8,165 payday along with the traditional gold and diamond trophy ring. He had a nearly identical payday when he took first after a chop at a $300 Winter Poker Tournament event at Turning Stone. Manolio began playing poker with his family five years ago. His ambition is to be a financial adviser and one day own his own business. "I'm very entrepreneurial," he said. Manolio, who only plays no-limit, has been mostly a cash game player but plans to play more tournaments now. While turbo fits his style because he's more than average aggressive, he prefers standard tournaments because they offer more play. Tonight he was always above average in chips. His other hobbies are watching movies, walking and listening to music. This second turbo event, which drew 126 players and a $25,200 prize pool, concluded a very successful Circuit here. Figures were up from last year, and entrants expressed their gratitude for the structures that gave them plenty of play, as well as for the competence of the tournament staff. Visitors to this resort casino were also impressed by the many upgrades, notably the awesome 90-foot glass-domed luxury pool. We got to the final table a little after 6 p.m. with 15 minutes left at level 15 with blinds of 4,000-8,000 and 1,000 antes. Chip leader with 133,000 was Steve Albert. Here were the starting chip counts: Seat 1. Ian Palomo 101,000 Seat 2. Frank Calomino 48,000 Seat 3. Steve Rampersaud 64,000 Seat 4. Jonathan Gutierrez 38,000 Seat 5. Jim Frey 105,000 Seat 6. Steve Albert 133,000 Seat 7. Frank Kruczek 24,000 Seat 8. Don Mercer 33,000 Seat 9. Julian Manalio 82,000 First to depart was Frank "Frankie Kid" Calamino. He moved in for 7,000 with pocket jacks. He got a call from Jim Frey, who then folded after Ian Palomo pushed in with Ah-Qh. A board of K-10-A-7-J gave Calamino a set on the river, but it was of little solace because it also gave Palomo a straight. Calomino, 48, is a mail room supervisor from the Bronx. He has a number of tournament wins including a turbo Circuit event at Caesars Palace in Vegas. He's been playing 35 years. When the level ended, levels were increased to 40 minutes because it was the final table. Blinds became 6,000-12,000 with 2,000 antes, and the massacre began. Immediately, Palomo moved in with pocket jacks, Jonathan "Wolverine" Gutierrez called all in with A-9, and then Don Mercer called with his last chips holding K-5. The board came 8-6-J-5-9, and this time a set of jacks was the winner. With more chips, Mercer placed eighth for $766 while Gutierrez's reward for seventh was $1,008. Guiterrez, 26, is a teacher from Lodi, New York who's been playing for 20 years and has a win at the Tropicana. Mercer, 62, from Sneads Ferry, North Carolina is a fisherman who's been playing 10 years and has a few cashes in small events. The next hand was out of a James Bond movie. Once again we had three players pushing in all their chips. This time Jim "Papa" Frey opened for 24,000, Albert moved in, Palomo moved in, and Frey called. The cards were turned up. Palermo had pocket kings, Frey had pocket 10s and Albert had A-9. A flop of 6-9-A gave Albert the lead. Then a 10 on the turn gave Frey a big lead with a set of 10s. The river? Right, a king, which gave Palomo a bigger set as he knocked over his chair in excitement. Two more players were gone. With 83,000 chips, Albert finished sixth, paying $1,260, while Frey, with 79,000, took seventh, which paid $1,008. Albert, 42, is from Queens, New York and owns a wholesale company. He's been playing since childhood, has a few tournament cashes, but this is his highlight. Frey 68, is a retired school teacher from Yardley, Pennsylvania who's been been playing 50 years. Flying is his other hobby. Twenty minutes had elapsed and already five players were out. Then Manolio took the lead when he doubled through against Palomo when his pocket 6s held up against A-Q. It wasn't long before another player went to see the cashier. This time, Frank "Frankie Kru" Kruczek went all in for 38,000 with A-K. He was a big favorite against Palomo's A-10, but then a 10 flopped and Kruczek took home $2,016 for fourth. Kruczek, 51, is from Galloway, New Jersey, has been playing 35 years, and also enjoys sports. The match got heads-up after Steven "Lucifer" Rampersaud pushed in with A-6. Manolio called with K-7, wnning with a straight when the board came 10-3-4-6-5. Rampersaud, 29, is an entrepreneur from Richmond Hill, New York. For third he won $2,520. He's only played two years and this is his major achievement. Now things slowed to a crawl. Blinds went to 8,000-16,000 with 2,000 antes. Palomo picked up chips and now he had the lead back. Then Manolio took over when his A-10 won after Palomo moved in on a straight draw and missed. Then Palomo took the lead again when he flopped two pair. And then Manolio moved in front again when he held Q-5 to Q-J and flopped a 5. Blinds now went to 10,000-20,000 with 3.000 antes. At long last, the last hand came down. Manolio moved in with K-8, Palomo called with A-6, the board came 10-K-3-8-10, and the two pair did the job. Palomo, 26, is a former appliance salesman from San Antonio, Texas, who turned pro three years ago. learning from his brother. He has a third in a Foxwoods event that paid $37,000. He also enjoys traveling and movies. --Max Shapiro